Issue #1186 Wed 9 Sep
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — September 9, 2026
Today's grid requires a sharp eye for familiar patterns and a bit of patience with the trickier definitions. Expect a smooth start that gradually demands more careful parsing.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The tax form instructions, a lecture on quantum physics, or the manual for a universal remote that lost its English settings.
Linguistic descriptors
Synonyms
Members are 6–16 letters; first letters B, E, I, O.
HARD TO UNDERSTAND
One is BEWILDERING.
BEWILDERING · ESOTERIC · INCOMPREHENSIBLE · OPAQUE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
A tiny grain of sand, a drop of water, and the very first second of the new year.
Prefix-based word groups
Items sharing one feature
Members are 7–14 letters; first letters M, N, P.
WORDS WITH "SMALL" PREFIXES
One is MICROBREWERY.
MICROBREWERY · MINIVAN · NANOTECHNOLOGY · PICOSECOND
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The popcorn bowl on the coffee table, the flickering living room lamp, and the phone you keep face-down until the credits roll.
Film titles
Examples of one named set
Members are 2–13 letters; first letters A, H, I, S.
HORROR MOVIES
One is ARACHNOPHOBIA.
ARACHNOPHOBIA · HALLOWEEN · IT · SAW
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The blank space on a printed form, the final prompt in a job application, or the word you add to a project name to make it sound official.
Compound word components
Each fills the same blank
Members are 1–15 letters; first letters B, E, G, T.
WORDS BEFORE "FORCE"
One is BRUTE.
BRUTE · ELECTROMAGNETIC · G · TASK
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
HARD TO UNDERSTANDBEWILDERING · ESOTERIC · INCOMPREHENSIBLE · OPAQUE
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Reveal the green group
WORDS WITH "SMALL" PREFIXESMICROBREWERY · MINIVAN · NANOTECHNOLOGY · PICOSECOND
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Reveal the blue group
HORROR MOVIESARACHNOPHOBIA · HALLOWEEN · IT · SAW
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Reveal the violet group
WORDS BEFORE "FORCE"BRUTE · ELECTROMAGNETIC · G · TASK
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on September 9, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for September 9, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on September 9, 2026?
NYT Connections on September 9, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on September 9, 2026?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #1186?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words